Tampa Beats Chicago, Boston for Hockey Fans, Study Says

Tampa might not be one of America’s oldest hockey towns nor its most traditional, but it ranks at the top for offering fans some of the best deals in the NHL.

That’s according to the website WalletHub, which recently released a survey ranking 74 of America’s largest cities based on the deals and support they provide for hockey fans. When the numbers were crunched, Tampa ranked No. 4 overall.

Pittsburg earned first-place standings in the survey that reviewed 18 different metrics, including team performance, average ticket price, stadium accessibility, nearby sports bars and more. Chestnut Hill, Mass., ranked second and St. Louis won third-place honors.

The top 10 was rounded out by:

• Boston, fifth place
• St. Paul, Minn., sixth
• Detroit, seventh
• Denver, eighth
• Chicago, ninth
• Anaheim, Calif., 10th

Some of Tampa’s standout stats that enabled it to rank fourth overall included:

• Team performance – 11th place
• Average ticket prices for NHL games – third place
• Stadium accessibility – eighth place
• Number of NHL championship wins – 10th place
• Attendance – 13th place
• Franchise value – 18th place
• Number of sports bars per 100,000 residents – eighth place

To check out the full survey, visit WalletHub online.

The Tampa Bay Lightning continues its Stanley Cup run against the Chicago Blackhawks this week. The winner in the seven-game series takes home the cup.

Patch file photo